Self-Reliance: How do you?
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Finished jarring our first batch of honey. I’m waiting on labels at the printer. Ended up with about 30 lbs. one of my two total hives produced the excess honey that we were able to harvest and I didn’t get the bees until late spring. Hoping for 70+lbs next year. I was able to fill 33 jars with 12 oz of honey in each, plus a couple 16 Oz jars that I gave away already.
A good bit of this batch will be saved for gifts to friends and family but I’m hoping to have enough to sell to cover my materials cost on the jars and labels. It’s been fun getting to find jars and design a label. Already have a design started for next years batch.
RafterW good job on the harvest, I’ve been keeping for 5 years now and them insects are far more fascinating than I ever could have imagined.
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cdavis it’s been a fun process. Way more work and thought goes into them than I initially guessed. Not the cheapest hobby to get started in but hopefully we can sell some locally and cover some costs. It’s less expensive than many of my hobbies though. All the fun ones just cost money.
RafterW yes I know all about those hobbies. Lol
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RafterW good job on the harvest, I’ve been keeping for 5 years now and them insects are far more fascinating than I ever could have imagined.
Ridley Acres I’ve had two deep hive bodies on each hive since May. Both are pretty well filled up with stores for the winter. Hoping that will get them through, I’d like to avoid feeding them if I can. I’m going to throw the extracted frames back in a super after I treat with OAV so they can clean them up and salvage the bit of honey that got left behind.
I’ve heard that many say one deep body is enough to get them through winter here in KS, with some supplemental feeding so hopefully the two deeps will be enough food for them.
I’ve got the equipment for a third hive so I’m going to learn more about splitting hives, might try that in the spring on the one hive that seemed to be doing best (the one I pulled the excess honey from).
Matt W.
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Ridley Acres I’ve had two deep hive bodies on each hive since May. Both are pretty well filled up with stores for the winter. Hoping that will get them through, I’d like to avoid feeding them if I can. I’m going to throw the extracted frames back in a super after I treat with OAV so they can clean them up and salvage the bit of honey that got left behind.
I’ve heard that many say one deep body is enough to get them through winter here in KS, with some supplemental feeding so hopefully the two deeps will be enough food for them.
I’ve got the equipment for a third hive so I’m going to learn more about splitting hives, might try that in the spring on the one hive that seemed to be doing best (the one I pulled the excess honey from).
RafterW said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
I’ve heard that many say one deep body is enough to get them through winter here in KS, with some supplemental feeding so hopefully the two deeps will be enough food for them.
There is a delicate balance between trying to make sure they are large enough to keep themselves warm overwinter, making sure they have enough food, and trying not to give them too much space that they have to heat.
In SE WI and I have 8 frame equip cuz that stuff is heavy, I got all mediums except for a couple hives have a deep box. I’m planning to over winter on either 3 mediums or 1 deep and 1 medium depending on the hive. But I also have the ceracell top feeder which I will fill with dry sugar when it gets closer to freezing. Hopefully any condensation will collect inside there and get absorbed by the sugar.
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I’ll just turn them into sausage…**
Chef , you have nothing to worry about. lol
Seriously though, A determined dirt bag who read our posts and decided we owned something significant enough… and they really wanted it… could conceivably look up name and address information if a user here includes their full name. The rest is all public record.
In the grand scheme of things, the actual risk may not be great, but IMO it still is good to think about this stuff.
processhead Man you are a mean ol son of a gun. We try to be a little more human & just string em up out back over a bed of ants.
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RafterW good job on the harvest, I’ve been keeping for 5 years now and them insects are far more fascinating than I ever could have imagined.
Ridley Acres Agree with you there. It was interesting to watch the bees. The crazy cost of the bees as they became trendy to do is nuts. Our hives would take a beating every year. The late winter storms and cold, wet springs would do in at least half of our hives that made it through the winter. Finally gave it up after 10+ years, maybe will re-attack after a break.
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Beleive it or not I am new to the gun/home defense world. Quick story on my background, grew up in a town in Upstate New York that was on the verge of being hoidy toidy (have never typed that before!) so guns were not part of my upbringing. I had one friend who became a cop that LOVED guns so he took me shooting shotguns, hand guns and an AK-style rifle a few times. I loved it but I also know myself, I can’t have something without playing with it and I didn’t have land or anything to go shooting on so I never got one. Moved to Texas, huge change in culture, went dove, turkey and some pheasant hunting more comfortable with guns but again, didn’t “pull the trigger”. Move all around and finally end up in Kansas, everyone here was hunting all the time, I was busy building my house and then doing projects on it for any free time.
Finally get the chance to go sporting clay shooting at https://www.flintoak.com/ and bought an Over-Under. Then Covid hits, immediately bought an 9mm handgun, single stack cause my wife has small hands and it has continued, that is all I will say!
Get more help with your processing questions and learn more about processing meat by subscribing to our waltonsinc.com youtube page at https://wltns.link/waltonstv I am a Gorilla, love yourself
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Beleive it or not I am new to the gun/home defense world. Quick story on my background, grew up in a town in Upstate New York that was on the verge of being hoidy toidy (have never typed that before!) so guns were not part of my upbringing. I had one friend who became a cop that LOVED guns so he took me shooting shotguns, hand guns and an AK-style rifle a few times. I loved it but I also know myself, I can’t have something without playing with it and I didn’t have land or anything to go shooting on so I never got one. Moved to Texas, huge change in culture, went dove, turkey and some pheasant hunting more comfortable with guns but again, didn’t “pull the trigger”. Move all around and finally end up in Kansas, everyone here was hunting all the time, I was busy building my house and then doing projects on it for any free time.
Finally get the chance to go sporting clay shooting at https://www.flintoak.com/ and bought an Over-Under. Then Covid hits, immediately bought an 9mm handgun, single stack cause my wife has small hands and it has continued, that is all I will say!
Jonathon We need to introduce more folks to the shooting sports. I understand many will not want to go and hunt, but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general. Walking around with preconceived ideas of what they are and capabilities because of misinformation and totally incorrect information. So, we need to be there to help them with hands on and learning opportunities. Off my soapbox.
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Beleive it or not I am new to the gun/home defense world. Quick story on my background, grew up in a town in Upstate New York that was on the verge of being hoidy toidy (have never typed that before!) so guns were not part of my upbringing. I had one friend who became a cop that LOVED guns so he took me shooting shotguns, hand guns and an AK-style rifle a few times. I loved it but I also know myself, I can’t have something without playing with it and I didn’t have land or anything to go shooting on so I never got one. Moved to Texas, huge change in culture, went dove, turkey and some pheasant hunting more comfortable with guns but again, didn’t “pull the trigger”. Move all around and finally end up in Kansas, everyone here was hunting all the time, I was busy building my house and then doing projects on it for any free time.
Finally get the chance to go sporting clay shooting at https://www.flintoak.com/ and bought an Over-Under. Then Covid hits, immediately bought an 9mm handgun, single stack cause my wife has small hands and it has continued, that is all I will say!
Jonathon I have taken many people new to guns and introduced them to shooting, both men and women. When women want to go I bring my wife along so they are comfortable. Some loved it and others didn’t. Make sure your wife feels comfortable shooting the pistol, only way is to get out and shoot. Also you might want to get a 22 pistol for plinking just to get comfortable shooting a pistol, used to be a lot cheaper and I have found that women find it easier when starting out, less noise and recoil. Just my two pennies worth!
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Jonathon Man, you shot Flint Oaks for your first clay-shoot! That’s a heck of a place. I shot sporting clays, trap and skeet in college. Went to nationals on a couple occasions outside of San Antonio. Flint Oaks is a crazy nice facility! I can relate to the not having a place to shoot, that one thing that has kept me from buying a long-range rifle. I’ve got some short range targets set up at my place now, can at least plink and check zero’s at 100 yrds. Shooting has gotten very expensive and ammo is still hard to come by, much harder than it should be. I didn’t dove hunt this year because of how difficult 12 gauge shells are to find.
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Jonathon We need to introduce more folks to the shooting sports. I understand many will not want to go and hunt, but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general. Walking around with preconceived ideas of what they are and capabilities because of misinformation and totally incorrect information. So, we need to be there to help them with hands on and learning opportunities. Off my soapbox.
YooperDog said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
Jonathon We need to introduce more folks to the shooting sports. I understand many will not want to go and hunt, but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general. Walking around with preconceived ideas of what they are and capabilities because of misinformation and totally incorrect information. So, we need to be there to help them with hands on and learning opportunities. Off my soapbox.
Amen Bro. I get that hunting might not be for everyone for any number of reasons.
But going to a shooting range is a great way for a new shooter to get exposure to the best side of firearm ownership and shooting. The good shooting ranges preach and live a culture of firearm safety and responsible gun ownership and gun slobs are generally not tolerated.
Informal and competitive target shooting is a fantastic individual sport and allows a new shooter to grow as much in the sport as he or she wants. -
Jonathon We need to introduce more folks to the shooting sports. I understand many will not want to go and hunt, but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general. Walking around with preconceived ideas of what they are and capabilities because of misinformation and totally incorrect information. So, we need to be there to help them with hands on and learning opportunities. Off my soapbox.
YooperDog “but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general.”
Growing up I thought everyone shot some type of firearm whether hunting, protection, or just for fun. I quickly realized in basic training that many had never touched a firearm, it amazed me then and still continues to amaze me.
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When you consider the number of firearms in this country, I think society in general would benefit from even the non-shooting public being trained in the fundamentals of gun safety.
I think it could help prevent a lot of accidental firearm discharges. -
YooperDog said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
Jonathon We need to introduce more folks to the shooting sports. I understand many will not want to go and hunt, but I am amazed how ignorant many are about firearms in general. Walking around with preconceived ideas of what they are and capabilities because of misinformation and totally incorrect information. So, we need to be there to help them with hands on and learning opportunities. Off my soapbox.
Amen Bro. I get that hunting might not be for everyone for any number of reasons.
But going to a shooting range is a great way for a new shooter to get exposure to the best side of firearm ownership and shooting. The good shooting ranges preach and live a culture of firearm safety and responsible gun ownership and gun slobs are generally not tolerated.
Informal and competitive target shooting is a fantastic individual sport and allows a new shooter to grow as much in the sport as he or she wants.processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
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Jonathon I have taken many people new to guns and introduced them to shooting, both men and women. When women want to go I bring my wife along so they are comfortable. Some loved it and others didn’t. Make sure your wife feels comfortable shooting the pistol, only way is to get out and shoot. Also you might want to get a 22 pistol for plinking just to get comfortable shooting a pistol, used to be a lot cheaper and I have found that women find it easier when starting out, less noise and recoil. Just my two pennies worth!
bocephus I have found the women are better at it with a little practice than we are. Excellent point on the .22 as well.
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processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
calldoctoday said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
In Nebraska, and maybe elsewhere, you can’t get a hunting license unless you have had hunter education. There is an exemption for older adults, but at least it is getting the kids started out on the right foot.
Paul
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Jonathon I have taken many people new to guns and introduced them to shooting, both men and women. When women want to go I bring my wife along so they are comfortable. Some loved it and others didn’t. Make sure your wife feels comfortable shooting the pistol, only way is to get out and shoot. Also you might want to get a 22 pistol for plinking just to get comfortable shooting a pistol, used to be a lot cheaper and I have found that women find it easier when starting out, less noise and recoil. Just my two pennies worth!
bocephus said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
Jonathon Also you might want to get a 22 pistol for plinking just to get comfortable shooting a pistol, used to be a lot cheaper and I have found that women find it easier when starting out, less noise and recoil. Just my two pennies worth!
Learning to shoot a centerfire handgun accurately and well can be a challenge.
Starting out with a .22 handgun is a great way to learn proper technique without the distractions of recoil and report. -
@matt-westerhaus I very much understand and am heading there myself. Connections with other like minded people make things a bit easier
About 90 % finished an old farmhouse. Barn and warehouse complete.
In the process of installing all my commercial equipment. Now can make my own lump coal for reliable smoking and cooking. I now have fruit trees that are producing, so I can always make my pear and pecan pies.
On the bucket list is a well pump that can be used manually if needed. Need a few bee hives. Then converting a portion of the barn to chickens. Would love to have a few ducks, but that’s the chef in me.
I understand where the group is about privacy. I probably don’t worry about it enough. I have several large knifes, meat saw, manual and electric equipment. If anyone makes the poor choice of trying to collect things from my property, well, I’ll just turn them into sausage…
processhead Jonathon Tex_77 Seriously, living in a very small town may have me too trusting. What kind of vulnerabilities do we have with posting on a site such as Meatgistics?
Chef I have done it more than three times now, but apparently was not smart enough to stay put (had to try & make a living). Now doing a restoration this time around rather than a complete new build & I am way behind. Humiliated, but not sure where all my energy I used to have went (still trying to make a dollar). Looks like a chicken hawk or something got our best Dominicker rooster this morning sometime. Looks like he must have put up a heck of a fight. Send us photos when you get the ol house & barn restored. I am sure that will be amazing.
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calldoctoday said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
In Nebraska, and maybe elsewhere, you can’t get a hunting license unless you have had hunter education. There is an exemption for older adults, but at least it is getting the kids started out on the right foot.
processhead They have it here too. They even offer it in high school. I am exempt, but I would take it myself, first chance I can, as I know there is always something to learn there.
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calldoctoday said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
In Nebraska, and maybe elsewhere, you can’t get a hunting license unless you have had hunter education. There is an exemption for older adults, but at least it is getting the kids started out on the right foot.
processhead said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
calldoctoday said in Self-Reliance: How do you?:
processhead It just about aught to be a requirement for hunting. How can you possibly understand your weapon & be familiar with it so that you can take the best shots possible in the field, without at least some practice on the range, if not extensive practice. All you could rely on otherwise is luck & me & luck have never got along too well apparently.
In Nebraska, and maybe elsewhere, you can’t get a hunting license unless you have had hunter education. There is an exemption for older adults, but at least it is getting the kids started out on the right foot.
I believe Wisconsin is the same unless there’s been a recent change. I went through it, my three sons have and so will the grandkids one day. Absolutely essential. Everyone should, even if you don’t hunt or are thinking about personal protection.
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